WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama met Friday morning with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama at the White House.
During their meeting, the president conveyed "his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China."
The president urged constructive dialogue between Tibet and China, and both "the president and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a positive and constructive relationship between the United States and China."
On the topic of Tibetan independence, the president stated that the U.S. considers Tibet to be part of the China and does not support Tibetan independence. In response, the Dalai Lama said he was not seeking Tibetan independence "and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese government will resume."
[White House]
